5 Techniques to Make Your Next Post Unforgettable

Reading a blog post should be like sinking your teeth into an ice cream cone in the middle of August.

Or the moment just before you plummet 2,000 feet in a roller coaster.

"Canobie's Corkscrew" by flatluigi

Let’s face it: blogs posts always have been, and always will be, a diversion from the mundaneness of life. No matter what your blog’s subject.

Since that’s true, let’s give people what they want.

Here are five techniques you can use to make your posts give your readers a great experience—not just dry information, but a truly unforgettable post.

1. Be a contrarian.

“If you try to write for everyone you write for no one.” ~ Brian Clark

It’s okay to be controversial. After all, if everyone agrees on the same things, it’s boring.

While I don’t recommend you disagree just to get attention, there are bound to be times where your interpretation of certain concepts differs from that of many other bloggers. When this happens, don’t hesitate to share your opinion.

When readers come across your blog and read a different take from the usual, it’s refreshing. Allow readers to enjoy that experience by having the courage to be controversial.

2. Create the unexpected.

Here are two solid ways you can implement the unexpected in your blog.

The first is to occasionally write posts that are a little off-topic from your niche, but which your readers will enjoy.

For example, if you write a blog on personal development, you might occasionally write on subjects that veer a little outside your niche but still interest you, such as tea, or strength training. Leo Babauta of Zen Habits does this all the time, and his success speaks for itself.

The second way to create the unexpected is to include something in your post that the reader never saw coming. It can be funny, shocking, nonsensical—anything you can think of, as long as it’s something your readers can’t anticipate. Of course, you have to be tactful in how you use this technique, because ultimately it has to work.

In a post titled, 9 Greatest Mistakes of All Time, my brother wrote two sentences about the Crocs shoe craze. Notice how the second sentence is completely unexpected (which is why it’s so fun to read):

“Not that long ago in a galaxy, very, very close, plastic shoes with large holes became an international sensation. Definitely the Bush administration’s greatest mistake.”

A few other ways to implement the unexpected include:

Conclude your blog post with a sentence that came out of left field.

Set up a post giving the impression you support one position, and then swiftly move to support a contrary position.

(You weren’t expecting me to give you that last bizarre example, but it made the reading more engaging, didn’t it?)

3. Use similes and analogies.

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ~ Anton Chekhov

Whenever possible, regardless of your niche, give people something they can see in their mind’s eye.

For example, I wrote a post about people failing to capitalize on opportunities in life and how, regardless, new opportunities are always coming our way whether we take advantage of them or not.

But I didn’t use that language. That would’ve been, well, lackluster.

Instead, I used the analogy of a surfer sitting on his board who had missed a couple waves and then suddenly spots a new set of waves rolling his way, appearing in the sun like large hills laden with diamonds.

Whenever you can use an analogy that paints a picture in the minds of your readers—and also makes the concept you’re conveying clearer—do it.

4. Use humor.

When you laugh, you’re having a good time. If your blog post can elicit chuckles from readers, you’re giving them one of the most pleasant of all human experiences. Make your readers laugh even just occasionally, and you’ve added a whole new dimension to your blog that your readers will relish.

Humor turns your post from being just a bunch of words into a party where everyone’s cracking up and having a good old time.

5. Use quotes.

In my blogging career, I’ve used quotes from blogs, books, and YouTube videos. And every time I have, the quality of my post improved.

For starters, by inserting a quote from someone else, you’re allowing your blog post to house another person’s voice other than your own. That gives your writing variety.

In addition, it gives you the opportunity to share someone else’s expertise on a subject—expertise that you may not possess.

In short, including quotes can make your post more interesting.

I don’t advocate using quotes just for the sake of it, but if you recognize a time where a quote will fit with your post, give it a go. It’s like adding a little spice to a dish to give it a little something extra. And personally, I like curry.

Anyone can share simple facts in their blog posts. But the really talented bloggers, who demand attention, give their readers experiences that keep them coming back for more, through unforgettable blog posts. Do you use these techniques? How else can we make our posts unforgettable?

Bamboo Forest created an online timer that helps make bloggers ridiculously productive. He also writes for Pun Intended, a blog that’s hilarious and enlightened.

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Comments

I enjoyed reading this light, breezy, informative post. All these ideas are very worthy of implementing in some way or another. I agree with the notion that a good blog post needs to contain a variety of key elements to really make it shine and give it a lasting shimmer:

Spacing, no huge paragraphs that scare people away, bold type, italics, quotes, font size variety, all add up to a pleasing visual display. And, of course, the writing has to be decent!

Perhaps encouraging readers to read the blog while enjoying their favorite beverage or a cigar might be fun, for example.

Humor. Definitely….humor. Also consider adding teasers at the end of your series posts, so the reader knows to anticipate the next installment (I’m currently doing that with my Inceptions Deceptions series).

Getting a lot of positive emails about it! Making your posts pull people in – it compels them to tell their friends as well. Good stuff!

Surprise is when we distort one’s beliefs about how things should be. “Be a contrarian.” and “Create the unexpected.” are, in my opinion, simply the elements of surprise…

Why is it useful to surprise people?

Well, when we disrupt the patterns of how things should look, people talk about it. They spread the word.

When you go to the store know what to expect. No one is talking about going to the store. However, if you go to the store and see a clown, it surprises you, you do not expect a clown in a store, and you will talk about it to your friends…

If you are chatting to your friends about it, and they will go to see a clown.

The same with blogs. If everyone expects some kind of post, and then they see something new in post that disturbs their patterns they will talk to someone about it, and he will come to see it. :)

“If you try to write for everyone you write for no one.” ~ Brian Clark

Loved this quote. I mostly try to write for myself. Something I have heard or just thought of, trying to make a mental point or trying to establish a point. Dont know how far the road to unforgettable is, but I always thought interacting with the blog readers is one of the most useful way to make your blogs memorable!

depending on the kind of blogs, I think be a contrarian is one of the most useful technique to give readers a great experience! discussing and sharing different opinions can always let grow people and it enhances a superior quality of contents.

Sense of humor and beeing able to surprise with your stories,is the shortest way to be succesful,not just blogging but any thing you mean to do. I agree with these two tips. Be contrarian…I don’t know, Perharps I would say better,to start a point of dicussion. Thanks for your tips.

WaW , what shall i say about this ?!!! really awsome , i do agree with you , you know when you write and make readers feel like they are with you and you’re reading it for them , specially when you laugh or joke and make that little pause to make them feel good , of course content does matter and its originality is very important !!!!

I have been building a blog for over a year now. My reason for starting it has changed, as marketing has changed. I now get good traffic, plenty of comments and regular subscribers.

But… I want to change the whole theme without losing my content and value. How damaging is this to take my platform and change it over to one of the newer themes. Mine is outdated and needs a new look, but to say I am “wimpy” over it is putting it mildly.

I have loved learning from you blog post. But I can’t seem to find a post relavent to my situation. If you could point me in that direction I would appreciate it.

I was wondering, how flexible is word press? I mean, I have often tried to get my posts to be more popular, but I am constricted by the limitations that I really dont have the time to put into my website, and connecting blog.

I’ve used all these ideas in the past few weeks and it really seems to be working well. An added benefit is that it’s more fun to construct posts this way. Changing the rules regarding hits in football is a big topic here right now as is adding instant reply to baseball. Both offered opportunities to be controversial. Very enjoyable. Especially the part about executing the umps in center field during the seventh inning stretch. Can you be too controversial?

Really nice post. I haven’t enough word to discrib that How important this post for me? Hope it will help me to drive my blog bright future ahead. Thanks a lot. I am a new Blogger from Bangladesh. try to write nice articles for my Blog. have a nice day. :)

Thanks for this post. I just wrote a post for tomorrow but had not published it yet, so I went back and added some more interest and humor, really just more of myself and I think it is much better. Thanks again for the tips.

Writing an interesting topic will make a blog post a success. Most of the people are not reading the whole post but they just scan and get some information. A bit of suspense can add spice to their interest.

Thanks for the useful tips. This is something that I tend to struggle with. Painting the picture to make the reader picture in their own minds what I am on about.
Creating interest by throwing in odd bits of information is also a great idea to generate interest.
I will use these points as a guide for writting my next post.

Nice post! These techniques surely seem useful, though they are pretty hard to start using them the moment you finish reading this article. I guess it will take some time for understanding where and when use each of these techniques…

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[…] 5 Techniques to Make Your Next Post Unforgettable: Is reading your blog like riding a roller coaster? You can either read this post to make it that way, or put all of your readers on a roller coaster. I know which one I’d choose. […]